#206 Nikki Campbell- Percussionist, Educator, Producer & More!
Nakeiltha A. Campbell a.k.a “Nikki”- percussionist, teaching artist, producer and performer whose work promotes empowerment through the celebration of African cultural heritage. Born in Colon, Panama, and raised in Los Angeles, Nikki uses drumming to express her unique Afro Latin-Carribean Panamanian lineage, extend a legacy of women drumming in the African diasporic traditions, and celebrate the intense study of rhythm. Introduced to drumming through the Mandinka and Afro Latin traditions, Nikki is rooted in a diverse repertoire including West African dun-duns, Djembe, Congas and Cuban Bata, Brazilian samba, and African American soul flavors, which she interweaves to create her unique sound. For the past ten years, Nikki has worked professionally as an artist and educator to share her talent and knowledge with young public school students, women drummers from across the USA, and the people of her home country.
She considers herself fortunate to study and work with a wide variety of local and international artist such as Mamady Keita (T.T.M Drum School) Balandugu Kan Kahlil Cummings, Robertito Melendez latin percussion school. A recipient award winner as an apprentice to study West African Music with Aboubakar Kouyate with the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. Also, for the Ambassador Award presented by Los Angeles Viva Panama Organization Inc for her contribution to the educational and musical fields.
Her recording experience includes African drums in the theme song featured film "Let the games begin" produce by Aloe Blacc, as well for Kendrick Lamar track for his historic performance "Alright" at the Grammy Awards. The Rebirth Album Being thru the Eyes of a Child, Chocolate (on the coco farm) by Maya Jupiter.
Nikki currently tours with Lila Downs, toured with Les Amazones "The Women Master Drummers of Guinea", Viver Brasil dance company, Adaawe, and The Rebirth. Performed with world renown artist Stevie Wonder, Aloe Blacc and Jose Gonzales. Performed at the NAACP Image Awards with Will I AM, the 53rd Grammy Award with Rihanna, American Idol with Janelle Monae & Jidenna, Additionally, recorded an instructional percussion video with Kids for Sesame Street for Latin Heritage Month. Performed for the World Culture KCET Women in Jazz celebration, the 4th and 5th Annual Palm Springs Woman Jazz Festival.
In 2015, Nikki founded “Puentes de Poder”, a cross cultural exchange program that promotes empowerment and unity through music. Project has traveled to Costa Rica and Panama to teach, perform, and present music as a form cultural history and continuity. Nikki supports and encourages people of all ages, genders, and nationalities to explore percussion as a means of communication, connection and collaboration.
Shout-Outs
Monette Marino - is a world percussionist. She spent the majority of the last 20 years studying under Master Drum-mer Mamady Keita from Guinea. In 1999 she received her Teaching Certificate from Mr.Keita and opened a branch of Tam Tam Mandingue USA in San Diego, California. From 2004–2012 she managed Mamady’s world tours, assisted him in teaching master classes, and performed with his ensemble, Sewa Kan. She received her diplo-ma from Mamady Keita & Tam Tam Mandingue in 2011.
Sheila E - Guided by the forces of family, faith, and music, Sheila E. has made a name for herself as one of the most talented musical icons over the decades. With a fearless nature and a passion for sharing her gifts with others, Sheila truly follows the beat of her own drum. She touches the lives of so many, with her dynamic music career at the heart of everything. Sheila’s eagerness to share her music, openness as an author, and fire for her ministry make her such a relatable, inspirational figure for people of all ages.
Drum Summit - Hit Like A Girl is therefore proud to introduce our new World Percussion program called “Drum Summit”. Like Hit Like A Girl, Drum Summit is designed to encourage and empower girls and women to play drums and share their drumming experiences. Here are just a few of the program’s goals and features:
Drum Summit has an advisory board made up of the world's top female percussion artists, educators and facilitators.
Produced in conjunction with our advisory board, the Drum Summit website offers a variety of educational information and resources along with professionally and community-created content.
In its second phase of development, Drum Summit will create guidelines and downloadable, multi-lingual materials to facilitate and support female drumming events organized by local, independent female drummers, all over the world.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Sheila E (on December 12th)!!!
Iconic Recording
The Glamorous Life is this week’s iconic recording. Prince wrote this song at a time when he was extremely prolific, recording numerous songs for himself and for others. His side projects included the groups Apollonia 6 and The Time, both of which featured in his movie Purple Rain. "The Glamorous Life" was intended for the 1984 album Apollonia 6, but Prince redistributed it (along with "Manic Monday," which went to The Bangles), as he lost interest in Apollonia 6.
The group was originally Vanity 6, fronted by the Prince protégé Vanity (Denise Matthews). When she pulled out of the Purple Rain film, Prince replaced her with Patricia Kotero, whom he dubbed "Apollonia" and made the new face of the group. According to Prince's biographer Per Nilsen, he wrote this song about Apollonia, who told Nilsen: "He used to make all these stupid jokes, 'You're the kind of chick who would wear a mink coat in the summertime.' To this day I don't have my own mink coat! When Sheila came into the scene, Prince took away the song from us and gave it to her."
The Pop Percussion Iconic Tracks Spotify playlist includes this week’s iconic recording.
Gig Alerts
The Jazz Foundation of America continue their fundraising efforts on behalf of musicians affected by the pandemic with “Bird Calls,” a livestream event on FANS celebrating the centennial birthday of alto saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker on Thursday, December 10 at 8PM ET with an encore rebroadcast scheduled for 8PM PT.
Musical Director Steve Jordan brought in a group of the world’s leading altoists: Antonio Hart, Vincent Herring, Miguel Zenón, Tom Scott, Jaleel Shaw, and Japan’s Erena Terakubo along with Kenny Barron, George Cables, Craig Haynes (son of Roy Haynes, who himself played behind Parker); trumpeters Jimmy Owens and Keyon Harrold; and guitarist Russell Malone. Nioka Workman’s Firey String Sistas guest on a performance saluting
Parker’s “Bird With Strings” recordings for Verve. New Orleans’ legends, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, also make an appearance to touch on Charlie Parker’s lasting influence on the Crescent City. -More Info
The Play On Live special will be on CBS December 15th. It is an all-star music event airing primetime on CBS at 8/7C on December 15, 2020 and simulcast globally on YouTube. The Event will be co-hosted by Kevin Bacon and Eve. Showcasing spectacular artists at legendary venues, PLAY ON is here to celebrate the things that unite us: good food, great music, and a powerful hope that a more just and equitable world is possible. Together, we’re investing in positive and lasting change in communities across America.
Educational Spotlight
PASIC is accepting applications for new artists for the 2021 convention until Jan 19th.
Social Soundbyte
Damon was asked to participate in the Boston Crusaders’ holiday event called Jingle Jam. Damon first heard the Classical Jazz Quartet play the Nutcracker Suite, specifically the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. From there he heard the Duke Ellington take on it with “Sugar, Rum, Cherry”. From there he decided to do a more Afro-Cuban version of this with Mark Small, Rich Zurkowski and Greg Blair.
Music News
Be An Arts Hero is an intersectional grassroots campaign comprised of Arts & Culture workers, Unions, and institutions in the United States pushing the Senate to allocate proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy. They have a letter to the Senators that you can sign to aid in getting support to the arts sector of the economy.
The Recording Academy’s charitable arm, MusiCares, is giving out $250 gift cards for the holidays. Here’s how to apply. The organization launched its ‘Help for the Holidays’ campaign today (December 1st). It’s a new initiative to provide aid to music industry professionals impacted by the continued COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. As part of its continued COVID-19 Relief, MusiCares is offering $250 essential goods e-cards to the first 4,000 eligible applicants. Applications open on Tuesday. -Article
Music Covid Relief a resource brought to you by partners in the U.S. Music Community to help music professionals access information and applications to receive benefits made available by the CARES Act (Phase III of the Coronavirus Stimulus bill signed into law March 27, 2020) and the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act” signed into law on April 24, 2020. The website will be continually updated as we receive information. Please keep checking back for more state by state information as it becomes available. -Website
Thanks to ongoing congressional disagreements and logistical hurdles, a second stimulus check won’t be arriving before Christmas. Here’s the latest on a follow-up to the CARES Act – including the prospects for a 2021 check. -Article
Nikki Campbell Interview
Damon was introduced to Nikki by (friend of the show) Kassandra Kocoshis.
Both Kassandra and Nikki taught drums and percussion at the California Women’s Prison.
Nikki also teaches kids in different settings and really enjoys educating the youth.
Nikki did a world drum performance clip on Sesame Street. The director of the segment was named Joshua Bell. Unfortunately he passed away due to Covid-19.
Nikki was born in Colon, Panama and her parents are of Jamaican decent. Nikki talks a bit about the history of the people of Panama.
Damon brings up two other Panamanian musicians in Danilo Perez and Ruben Blades. There is a foundation that Danilo started in Panama called La Fundación Danilo Pérez. Damon forgot to mention a Panamanian percussionist (and friend of the show) Renato Thoms.
You can learn Panamanian folkloric drumming through Danilo’s foundation, and percussionist Omar Diaz.
Afrodisíaco is a good Panamanian folkloric group you can listen to.
Nikki talks about the art and love of the arts in her family.
Nikki’s L.A. musical journey started at the House of Blues. At the time she was in school studying business. Some of the jam sessions that were going on and drum clinics helped guide her.
Watching Ben Harper, Nikki noticed Leon Mobley, who later invited her to play with an event he was doing for the Special Olympics. Leon and his brother were Nikki’s first Djembe teachers.
Damon mentions Motherland Music for getting djembes in L.A.
Rahsan Cummings and his son (and friend of the show) Kahlil Cummings were instrumental in pushing Nikki’s drum knowledge further and studying the Mandinka culture.
Nikki gives accolades to Mamady Keita and his thorough teaching.
Damon brings up women making strides in a (typically) male dominated instrument category. He mentions Tom Tom Magazine, and the Hit Like a Girl competition. Nikki mentions Women Drummers International in Oakland, CA. In addition to Sheila E, Nikki mentions: Mabiba Baegne and Carolyn Brandy. Damon mentions Bobbye Hall. Nikki mentions Vicki Randle from the Tonight Show (with Jay Leno).
Nikki is working on a documentary. Tamboleras seeks to shine the light on the modern phenomenon of women drummers who are engaged in traditional music's of the African diaspora. From Los Angeles, to the Bay Area, Philadelphia to New York, Bahia Brazil to Cuba, Guinea to Senegal women who drum deserve to know that they are not alone. Please help donate for the completion of this film.
Nikki is involved in a couple of Cultural Projects like Puentes de Poder which is a cultural exchange program dedicated to foster the growth of cultural tradition to help people connect to their ancestral heritage through the drum rhythms of West Africa, Panama and Latin America.
The other program is SEWA which is a collective of multicultural percussionist and drummers from Panama. Paying tribute to the Panamanian drum. Has a founding member, we are documenting to transmit the knowledge of the drum to preserve and insure its value.
Before the coronavirus stopped touring and live music, Nikki was touring with Lila Downs Y La Misteriosa.
Nikki talks about the pros and cons of being off of the road for so long.
Nikki uses Latin Percussion instruments. Some additional shout-outs to Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Nikki’s parents, the music community and Extra Ancestral.
You can follow Nikki on her Website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
